Wire fence.



No. 632,787'. Patented sept. l2, |899.'

G. C. METC'ALF.

WIRE FENCE. (Application mea Apr. 18,*1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.l

GEORGE C. METCALF, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,787, dated September 1,2, 1899.

Application filed April 18, 1898. Serial No. 677,979. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE O. METCALF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire Fences, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a partial vertical central cross-sectional view of one of the posts of my improved fence, taken on the'line l l on Fig. II. Fig. II represents a front elevation of said post; and Fig. III represents afront elevation of a section of the completed fence, illustrating the method of anchoring the end post when the strain of the entire fence is imparted to said post.

My said improved fence consists of posts A, which I prefer to construct from ordinary gas or otheriron pipe, provided with suitable covers A', stringers B,stays C, and post-clamps D.

The end post A2 is made of larger-sized pipe than are the posts A and has aflixed thereto beneath the surface of the earth and extending in the direction of the stress on the wire stringers a horizontalbeam Awhich is stayed by means of two stakes 'A4, driven one on each side of the beam near the end post.

A stay-rod A5 is fastened at one end to the end of the beam by means of a bolt a, which may further be made to extend through an anchor-plate or a boulder a. The other extremity of the rod rests against or is fastened to the upper part of the post A2.

The above construction makes a very strong anchorage for the fence.

The post-clamps D each consist of a metal ring d, which embraces the post and is formed with a socket d on its inner surface. A lug d2 extends upwardly from said socket, its inner surface being made continuous with the inner surface of the socket, both said surfaces being outwardly inclined with respect to the plane of the ring. A wedge D, formed with toothed surfaces d3, fits into said socket. The said wedge is formed on opposite sides with two indentations d4, which are made of a size adapted to receive and carry the stringers of the fence. The two indentations are made of different sizes, whereby the stringers may be either made to slip loosely therein when the wedge is in place or be made to bind the stringers, according to the desire to make the end post A' receive the entire strain or to distribute the strain equally on all the posts of the fence.

The posts having been set in their proper places, the post-clamps are adjusted upon them and fastened by driving a wedge into the socket of each ring between the upwardlyextendinglug and the surface of the post, the Stringer having been first introduced into the appropriate indentations, the toothed faces of the wedges serving lto prevent said wedges from backing out after being struck. When the wedges have been sufficiently tightly set,

the end of each lug is turned over onto the wedge, as shown in Fig. I, and thus eectually prevents the retract-ion thereof, the said lugs being made sui'liciently lon gV for this purpose. A

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means covered by any one of the following claims be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionl. A post-clamp for wire fences, consisting of the combination with a ring adapted to embrace the post and formed with a socket, of a wedge adapted to engage the inside of said socket and said post, said ring provided with means adapted to prevent the wedge from retracting, substantially as set forth.

2. A post-clamp for wire fences, consisting of the combination with a ring adapted to embrace the post and formed with a socket, of a wedge adapted to engage the inside of IOO said socketand said post, said socket provided Stringer, whereby said Stringer may be made ro with a lug adapted to prevent the retraction to pass between said lug and post, substanof said Wedge, substantially as set forth. tially asset forth.

3. A post-clamp forvwire fences, consisting Signed by me this 7th day of April, 1898.

' of the combination with a ring adapted to GEORGE C METCALF embrace the post and formed with a socket having a projecting lug, of a Wedge adapted Attest:

to engage said socket, post and lug and formed D. T. DAVIES, with an indentation adapted to receive a A. E. MERKEL. 

